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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14

Canterbury Province

page 43

Canterbury Province.

Sale of the Sherwood Estate.

The Sherwood Estate, near the Makikihi Railway Station, in the Waimate County, was submitted at auction on May 10, by Mr. R. Turnbull. The property is a magnificent one in every respect, consisting of low rolling downs, with well-watered valleys between. The soil could not be surpassed for grain-growing purposes, and the few wheat crops already grown on it have been exceptionally heavy. It comprises 6,500 acres, which were divided into farms in size from 54 to 327 acres.

The sale was held in Messrs. Miles, Archer and Co.'s new buildings, in Strathallan Street, in a room 80 ft. by 40 ft. This, during the middle of the day, was almost crammed with people, the greater portion of whom were intending buyers. Amongst them we noticed persons from all parts of South Canterbury, as well as from the north of the provincial district and from Otago. The bidding, all through, was more animated than any we have seen before, and the excitement over some of the best sections was most intense. Offers advanced rapidly, and a perfect mania seems to have taken possession of many buyers. Nor did the auctioneer fail to take advantage of the land-fever, the symptoms of which were so plainly visible on every face. On the contrary, he lost no opportunity of increasing its intensity, and the result was that exceptional, not to say more than satisfactory, prices were realised.

The following is the detailed account of the sales. Owing to the names of the different purchasers being withheld, we page 44 are unable to lay them before our readers. The total amount realised was something over £87,566:—
Lot. Description. A. R. P. £ s. d.
1 Farm Hmstd. 242 1 12 7 0 0
2 Farm Hmstd. 196 2 8 7 0 0
3 Farm Hmstd. 237 2 30 8 15 0
4 Farm Hmstd. 241 3 27 12 0 0
5 Farm Hmstd. 178 3 30 12 15 0
6 Farm Hmstd. 258 2 20 14 10 0
7 Farm Hmstd. 278 0 10 14 10 0
8 Farm Hmstd. 104 1 13 14 5 0
9 Farm Hmstd. 170 2 15 14 5 0
10 Farm Hmstd. 162 1 1 13 10 0
11 Farm Hmstd. 145 3 19 12 5 0
12 Farm Hmstd. 327 2 7 16 0 0
12 A Farm Hmstd. 217 2 27 16 0 0
13 Farm Hmstd. 182 2 20 12 5 0
14 Farm Hmstd. 219 0 36 13 5 0
15 Farm Hmstd. 192 2 29 13 5 0
16 Farm Hmstd. 195 3 26 13 15 0
17 Farm Hmstd. 166 3 33 13 5 0
18 Farm Hmstd. 166 1 16 13 5 0
19 Farm Hmstd. 152 3 26 13 5 0
20 Farm Hmstd. 234 1 11 14 10 0
21 Farm Hmstd. 182 3 0 15 0 0
22 Farm Hmstd. 150 1 29 15 10 0
23 Farm Hmstd. 178 3 39 15 10 0
24 Farm Hmstd. 163 0 16 15 0 0
25 Farm Hmstd. 131 0 27 16 5 0
26 Farm Hmstd. 160 2 33 16 5 0
27 Farm Hmstd. 264 1 37 17 10 0
27 A Farm Hmstd. 17 0 34 17 5 0
28 Farm Hmstd. 117 0 19 12 10 0
29 Farm Hmstd. 198 0 30 13 10 0page 45
30 Farm Hmstd. 107 0 19 20 10 0
31 Farm Hmstd. 92 1 5 20 10 0
32 Farm Hmstd. 77 0 17 13 10 0
33 Farm Hmstd. 64 3 25 16 0 0
34 Farm Hmstd. 115 2 20 15 0 0
35 Farm Hmstd. 54 2 38 15 0 0
36 Farm Hmstd. 90 1 21 14 10 0
37 Farm Hmstd. 91 1 35 13 15 0

From the "Morning Herald," June 4th, 1878.

Special Telegram.

Christchurch,

A property sale of great interest took place to-day, when Messrs. J. T. Ford & Co. offered the Otaio Station, in the Waimate district, consisting of 17,300 acres, and stock thereon consisting of about 24,000 sheep. The run was offered on behalf of Messrs. Teschemaker and Le Cren. The competition was very keen. The property was finally knocked down to Mr. Thomas Teschemaker for £191,000—an average of £11 per acre.

Special Telegram.

Christchurch,

At the sale of Tancred and Allan's run (2,000 acres at Ashburton), the laud fetched enormous prices. Some of it was sold at £35 per acre, and a good deal from £15 to £20.

page 46

Particulars of Properties Sold In The Timaru District, 1878.

1.Island Flat, 404 acres, 20 miles from Timaru, 7 miles from Railway Station, adjoining road. Per acre, £10.
2.Quinn's Farm, 741 acres, midway between St. Andrew and Makikihi Railway Stations, and Railway Sidings on property. Main road running through the farm. Per acre, £20.
3.Goldie's Farm, 181 acres, 3 miles from Timaru. Per acre, £20.
4.French and Sharlands, 4 miles from Point Railway Station. 500 acres at £10. 6s.
5.534 acres unimproved, 9 miles from Albury Railway Station, at £3. 5s.
6.112 acres, Kakahu district, 9 miles from Railway, laid down in grass, at £8.
7.Lots 1, 2 and 3, Sherwood Estate, 677 acres, resold at £9. 10s.
8.Otaio Estate, 17,500 acres freehold and 30,000 acres leasehold, with all stock, for £191,000.
9.Claremont, 7 miles, and Timaru 2,239 acres at £13. (Bought in.)
10.Strathcoonan, 9 miles from Albury Railway Station, 7,000 acres at £7.
Timaru,

Sale of The Arowhenua Station Estate.

Messrs. H. Matson & Co., auctioneers, on May 16 sold by auction, in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, Messrs. Ford and Newton's Arowhenua Station Estate, situate in the vicinity of Temuka. It comprises about 7,500 acres of page 47 splendid agricultural and pastoral land, and is altogether one of the best properties in South Canterbury. The attendance at the sale was very good, the bidding exceedingly spirited, and the prices realised highly satisfactory The following are the particulars of the sale:—
Upper Block.
Area. Price per Acre.
A. R. p. £ s. d.
170 3 18 13 0 0
393 0 0 13 5 0
190 2 33 11 5 0
443 0 0 11 0 0
318 2 0 13 0 0
249 2 0 12 0 0
378 0 0 10 15 0
149 0 35 9 0 0
426 3 5 8 10 0
320 0 0 11 0 0
424 0 0 9 10 0
115 9 0 17 0 0
305 0 0 13 5 0
360 0 0 13 0 0
20 0 0 10 0 0
Lower Block.
104 3 10 16 10 0
91 1 20 21 0 0
151 0 20 21 0 0
110 1 0 17 0 0
210 3 0 22 10 0
90 2 0 20 0 0
91 1 0 19 10 0
100 0 0 8 0 0
322 2 24 23 0 0
page 48

A Successful Settlement In New Zealand.

The following interesting item we take from the Wellington Monthly price current. The township of Feilding, in the provincial district of Wellington, is an example of successful settlement of a very satisfactory character. The timber trade of the place alone is estimated at equal to £1,000 per week.—Extract from "The Colonies and India," December 31st, 1878

Live Stock And Produce Sales.

Mr. Henry Driver (on behalf of the N. Z. L. and M. A. Company, Limited) reports for week ending 30th October:—

For to-day's market the following fat stock came forward; 239 cattle, 1,535 sheep, 364 lambs and 17 calves.

Fat Cattle.—Those penned were almost all first-class quality, but in consequence of the large number forward, and the trade having been supplied privately, we have to report a fall of fully 2s. 6d. per 100 lbs.—say best pens bullocks realised from £14 to £18; cows, £7. 10s. to £11—or, say for prime beef 40s. to 42s. 6d. per 100 lbs., medium 35s. to 40s.—and as these prices did not come up to owners' expectations, about 100 head were withdrawn. We sold 40 head on account of Messrs. Keith, Little and Wallace, at the above rates.

page 49

Fat Sheep.—About one-half of those yarded were prime quality, the remainder only medium. The supply being small, last week's rates were fully maintained—viz.: 14s. to 14s. 6d. for shorn, 17s. to 21s. with the wool—or, say 3d. per lb. for the former, and 4d. for the latter. We sold on account of Messrs. Wilson and Thomson 400 head. Mr. Thomson's being a very fine lot of shorn cross-breds, brought 16s. 6d.

Fat Lambs.—The supply was large, and the demand brisk. The whole of those penned sold at from 6s. 6d. to 12s. 6d. 100 very prime, from the farm of Mr. Wm. Shand, Taieri, brought 12s. 6d.

Calves.—The few offered sold at from 15s. to 45s. each.

Store Stock.—We have no transactions to report.

Sheepskins.—At our weekly auction on Monday we catalogued 1,400 sheepskins, which were fairly competed for, notwithstanding the unsatisfactory state of the wool market, and the absence of several buyers. Best cross-breds sold up to 5s. 8d., and merinos, 4s. 6d.

Hides.—There have been no sales this week. The demand is slack. Wet-salted are saleable at 3½d. per lb.

Tallow.—Market quiet. Value unaltered. Good lots rough fat, 22s.

Grain.—Wheat: Very little business doing. Market stagnant. Quotations nominal; 4s. to 4s. 2d. for best milling. Oats: Feed oats are 1d. dearer. No stocks or arrivals. Sales at 4s. 1d. for feed. Some holders require 4s. 6d. before supplying the market. Barley: A small sale of inferior malting at 6s. 3d. net cash is the only transaction to report. Feeding sorts, 4s. to 4s. 6d.

Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co. report for the week ending 30th October, 1878, as follows:—

Fat Cattle.—The large supply of 239 was yarded, which, being beyond the requirements of the trade, a reduction on last week's rates had to be submitted to, and a page 50 considerable number were turned out. We sold 117 head, on account of Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co., Gladbrook Station; Messrs. Geo. Wilson, Geo. Wallace, the N. Z. and A. L. Co. (Limited), and others. Bullocks brought from £13. 2s. 6d. to £17; cows, from £10 to £13. 17s. 6d.—equal to 40s. per 100 lbs. for prime quality. Privately, we have delivered 50 head to the trade at satisfactory prices.

Fat Sheep.—1,535 were penned, consisting of cross-breds, principally in wool; all were cleared off at about equal to last week's quotations. We sold 939 on account of Messrs. Wilson, Smith, Elder, M'Aulay, and others. Crossbred ewes and wethers brought, in wool, 15s. to 16s. 3d. each; do. wethers, from 16s. for medium to 24s. for prime heavy weights. We quote mutton, in the wool, 3½d. to 3¾d. per lb.; shorn do., 2½d. to 2¾d. per lb. We have delivered privately to the trade 630 crossbreds.

Fat lambs.—364 penned, the greater portion of which were of good quality and fairly grown. We sold 193 at from 8s. 6d. to 10s. each.

Store Cattle.—We have no sales to report since last week. We beg to call attention to our sale at the Mosgiel Yards, on Tuesday, the 5th November, when we shall offer 200 well-grown bullocks and cows; and to our sale at Palmerston, on Thursday, the 7th inst., when we shall offer about 230 head of mixed cattle, consisting of dairy cows and quiet well-bred steers and heifers.

Store Sheep.—We have to report the sale of 4,000 full- mouthed merino wethers, for delivery after shearing, at a satisfactory figure.

Country Sales.—On Friday, the 1st November, we will hold a clearing sale at Messrs. Coskery and Reid's, Trotters Creek, near Hampden, when we shall offer for positive sale, on account of dissolution of partnership, the Trotters Creek Farm, draught and light harness horses, cattle, sheep, and farming implements, &c., &c.

page 51

Horses.—Heavy draught and strong upstanding light harness horses continue in good inquiry, but the supplies are very limited. We quote first-class draughts, at from £65 to £75; medium, £45 to £60; light, £30 to £40; first-class saddle and light harness horses, £25 to £35; medium, £12 to 20; light and inferior, £5 to £10.

Sheepskins.—We did not offer any this week, but shall hold our next sale as usual on Monday first.

Hides.—The market continues very depressed. We have sold 136 at equal to 3½d. per lb., which may be taken as present market value.

Tallow is in good demand, but none offering. We quote prime mutton at £28 to £30; medium, £24 to £27; rough fat, £22. 10s.

Grain.—Wheat. The inquiry for this product is almost nil. We quote really prime samples at 4s. 2d. per bushel; good, 4s.; ordinary, 3s. 9d.; fowls' feed, 3s. 3d. Oats are much sought after, but very few offering. We quote first-class samples of feed and milling at 4s. 2d.; ordinary, 4s. to 4s. 1d. Barley is in good request at up to 6s. 6d. for really prime samples, and 6s. for ordinary ditto.

Maclean Brothers report for week ending 30th October as follows:—

Fat Cattle.—The largest supply we have had for at least two months came forward for this day's market, 239 head being yarded, all good to prime quality. Notwithstanding the short supplies lately to hand, this number proved largely in excess of the requirements of the trade; and as sellers, in some cases, did not feel disposed to quit at prices offered, about 90 head were turned out unsold. Best bullocks brought from £14 to £16. 10s.; do. cows, £11 to £13—or equal to 40s. per 1000 lbs., quite 5s. per 100 lbs. under last week's rates;

Fat Calves.—Only 17 penned, 14 of which we sold at from 9s. to. 54s. each, according to size and quality.

page 52

Fat Sheep.—About 1500 came forward, and, although only a small number, competition was only moderately active, and prices a shade easier than last week. Best cross-breds brought from 18s. to 19s. 3d.; do. do. shorn, 16s. to 16s. 6d.

Fat Lambs.—364 were penned, and sold at from 8s. 6d. to 11s., at which figure we sold 100.

Store Cattle.—During the past week there has been a brisk demand for store cattle, and a considerable number has changed hands at satisfactory prices. On Friday, 25th inst., at Outram, we sold by auction 250 head on account of Messrs. Petrie, Wright, Draper, Waldie, and others.

Store Sheep.—Transactions during the week have been quite unimportant, as only exceptional lots are now in the market. At Balclutha, on the 24th instant, we sold 750 crossbred hoggets at 13s. 6d. each. We anticipate a good demand for young sheep after shearing.

Country Sales.—On Friday, November 8th, we shall offer at the pound yards, Outram, on account of Messrs. James Henderson and others, 150 head good store cattle.

Sheepskins.—We had but a small catalogue for our sale on Monday last, and, although there was moderate com-petition, prices were barely up to last week's level. We quote green cross-breds at 4s. 10d. to 5s. 4d.; do. merinos, 4s. to 4s. 3d. Dry skins: six bales sold at 6¼d. per lb.

Hides.—The demand continues very dull, and prices cannot be quoted at over 3½d. per lb. None offered at auction, and only some small lots sold privately.

Grain.—Wheat meets with but little inquiry, and sales of all descriptions are difficult to effect. Quotations are without material change. Oats are in excellent demand, and good feed may be quoted at 4s. 1d.; ordinary do., 3s. 11d. to 4s. Prime milling up to 4s. 3d. The arrivals during the past week have been quite inconsiderable. Barley is quite out of the market, and brewers seem prepared to give extreme page 53 prices for really good malting to meet immediate requirements.

R. W. Capstick reports having sold on Tuesday, the 29th October, at his yards, Milton, on account of Mr. W. A. Mosely, the following lots:—34 half-bred hoggets, at 12s.; 90 Leicester ewes, at 13s. 6d.; 5 do. at 24s. 9d.; 8 do. at 25s.; 8 do. at 25s.; 85 do. at 17s.; 51 do. at 16s. 1d.; 50 do. at 16s. 1d.; 42 do. at 16s. 3d.; 25 do. at 16s. 1d.; 1 Leicester ram, £2. 13s.; 10 do. at 25s. There was a very good attendance, but the bidding was not at all spirited, and the flock, looking very poor after standing in the water on the Inch Clutha, did not realise the prices expected.

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page 55

Australia And New Zealand.

It is always interesting, though it may not always he profitable, for a parent to look into the books and balance-sheets of the sons that he has started in business. If they are doing well, he must have pleasure; if they seem a little doubtful, he must have anxiety; if things are all against them, he cannot be comfortable. What is true of father and sons is true of the mother country and the colonies. At home we desire to know how they are getting on, and whether they promise to be as successful as the mother country has been. Every now and then one or other of these colonies gives an account of itself. Some colonist, desirous to further the interests of his new home, will tell us a flattering tale of its prospects, and he is gladly listened to. Still, it is well to look into the matter a little for ourselves—to confirm, if possible, his statements by undoubted facts, and to satisfy ourselves that all is well. From the Australian group of colonies many promising accounts have come, and recently New Zealand gave a particularly favourable account of herself. It may be well to see, from authentic sources, whether this account is borne out; and in order to do so a comparison may be made between New Zealand and the other Australian colonies.

The total area of all the Australian colonies is 53,173,310 square miles, while that of the United Kingdom is only 120,830 square miles; so that they are more than 26 times as big as we are. No doubt a good deal of the area is not likely to be productive at any time; but it may be doubted whether, comparatively, there is as much of their surface in page 56 that condition as there is of the surface of the United Kingdom. How much elbow-room they have may be seen by the fact that, while upon our 120,830 square miles we have a population of not less than 33,000,000, upon their 3,173,310 square miles they had only a population of 2,401,715 in 1876. That is to say, they had not one inhabitant per square mile, while we had more than 273. Plainly, then, they have plenty of room to grow; and they are growing rapidly. Their population, which, as just stated, was 2,401,715 in 1876, was only 1,264,954 in 1861. That is an increase in 15 years of close upon 90 per cent. In the same time, taking our population now at 33,000,000, our increase was only a little more than 13 per cent. Where the growth arose may be seen in the following table:—
1861. 1876.
New South Wales 358,273 629,776
Victoria 540,322 840,300
South Australia 126,830 213,271
Western Australia 15,691 26,709
Tasmania 89,977 105,484
New Zealand 93,971. 399,075
Queensland 34,885 187,100

It will be seen that, while New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia have increased rapidly, the rate of their increase has been small compared with New Zealand and Queensland. In New South Wales, the increase was something over 75 per cent., and that was the largest of the three first named. But the increase in New Zealand was a little over 303 per cent., and that of Queensland was rather over 436 per cent. This is little short of marvellous, and speaks volumes for the vigour with which the Governments of New Zealand and Queensland have pushed the claims of their countries. It will be found, however, that there is a material difference between the two colonies when their condition is further examined.

page 57
Of course the Australian colonies have to raise money and to spend it; and all of them have gone further, and indulged themselves with a National Debt. Taking them altogether their gross public revenue, which was £8,166,816 in 1862, was £16,012,288 in 1876, so that it had very nearly doubled. In the same period, their public expenditure had gone up from £7,769,619 to £16,749,923. Not only, therefore, had it more than doubled, but, whereas in 1862 the expenditure was well below the income, in 1876 the income was sadly below the expenditure. As a natural consequence, the public debt had increased. It was only £16,097,070 in 1862; it had become £59,380,862 in 1876. The question will naturally be asked which colony contributed most to this growth; and the following table will give the answer:—
Colony. Revenue. Expenditure. Debt.
1862. 1876. 1862. 1876. 1862. 1876.
N. S. Wales 2,273,170 5,033,828 2,135,518 4,748,013 5,802,980 11,759,619
Victoria 3,269,079 4,325,156 3,039,497 4,572,844 7,992,740 17,011 382
S. Australia 667,709 1,320,204 613,681 1,323,357 853,300 3,937,100
W. Australia 69,407 162,189 72,268 178,484 11,750 135,000
Tasmania 371,596 327,348 855,865 336,388 486,500 1,520,500
New Zealand 1,269,424 3,580,294 1,185,473 4,305,337 836,000 18,678,111
Queensland 346,431 1,263,263 367,317 1,285,520 123,800 6,439,250

There again we have New Zealand and Queensland distinguishing themselves. Roughly speaking, New South Wales has rather more than doubled her revenue, her expenditure, and her debt. Victoria has not grown at so great a rate in her revenue and expenditure, but has exceeded it in her debt. South Australia has rather more than doubled revenue and expenditure, and more than quadrupled her debt. But when we come to New Zealand, we find revenue increased more than 182 per cent., expenditure more than 263 per cent., and debt more than 2,134 per cent. Queensland has, however, done more than this. Her revenue has increased more than 264 per cent., her expenditure more than 249 per cent., and her debt more than 5,101 per cent. Really these Colonies are magnificent in the way of debt.

page 58
What have they to set against it? The inquirer will naturally look to the trade returns, and rightly. There he will find an answer which cannot be regarded as unsatisfactory. He will find that the total imports of the Australian colonies, which were £31,623,093 in 1862, had grown in 1876 to £45,505,083, while the exports had grown from £26,542,713 in 1862 to £43,093,920. It is plain from these figures that the Australian colonies do not yet indulge in many luxuries; and another lesson which might be brought out from the figures is, that Protection has not done much for them. But it may be well to take the colonies separately:—
Imports.
1862. 1876. Increase p. Cent
New South Wales 9,334,645 13,672,776 46.5
Victoria 13,487,787 15,705,354 16.4
South Australia 1,820,656 4,576,183 151.3
Western Australia 172,991 386,037 123.1
Tasmania 857,423 1,133,003 32.1
New Zealand 4,626,082 6,905,171 49.2
Queensland 1,323,509 3,126,559 136.2
Exports.
1862 1876 Increase p. Cent
New South Wales 7,102,562 13,003,941 83
Victoria 13,093,422 14,196,487 8.8
South Australia 2,145,796 4,816,170 124.4
Western Australia 119,314 397,293 232.9
Tasmania 919,649 1,130,933 22.9
New Zealand 2,422,734 5,673,465 134.1
Queensland 793,236 3,875,581 388.5

Here again we have Queensland showing well in front in increase, though South Australia comes near to it, and Western Australia and New Zealand are also exceptionally strong. The apparently small increase in Victorian exports is page 59 accounted for by the decrease in the quantity of gold exported. Thus in 1862, of the total exports from that colony £7,611,636 was bullion, while in 1876 the amount was only £3,701,242. New Zealand sent out about £260,000 less bullion in 1876 than in 1862, but Queensland rose from £1,028 in 1862 to £1,448,731 in 1876. Plainly, then, the Australian colonies had a fair growth of trade in the 15 years between 1862 and 1876, and New Zealand comes out very well.

But it will be wise to look a little deeper. The Australian colonies are and must be to a great extent pastoral and agricultural for many years to come; that is to say, they must look chiefly to the growth of their flocks and herds, and of their agricultural produce. Here it will be seen that their opportunities are almost boundless, and they have taken fair advantage of them. Their staple export is now wool, and it is worth while seeing how enormously that export has grown.

1862.
lb.
1876.
lb.
Increase p. cent.
New South Wales 17,307,202 100,736,330 476.2
Victoria 25,245,778 106,265,877 320.8
South Australia 14,497,244 43,068,795 197
Western Australia. 806,008 2,831,174 251.2
Tasmania 5,241,650 6,848,517 23.4
New Zealand 9,839,285 59,853,454 508.3
Queensland. 8,063,612 22,918,560 184.2
The teaching of these figures is, that New Zealand has developed one of her staple productions more than any other colony. Let us see what New Zealand does in the way of agriculture. The following table shows the product of wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes in each of the colonies:— page 60
Wheat. Bushels per Acre. Barley. Bushels per Acre. Oats. Bushels per Acre. Potatoes. Tons Acre.
New South Wales 16.4 23.6 21.1 3
Victoria 13.1 21.1 19.9 3.3
South Australia 5.4 10.6 10.6 2.8
Western Australia 11.9 15 15 3
Tasmania 19.2 23.5 24.2 3.4
New Zealand 236 28.9 31.2 5.4
Queensland 16.4 23.6 21.1 3

Here there is no mistake about which colony is most suited for agriculture. New Zealand gets as much of wheat per acre as is got in this country, and she far surpasses every other colony. With a soil so fertile, and with such unbounded resources, her people must have a brilliant future before them. There is perhaps no one of the colonies that agriculturists would despise—no one that cannot look forward with confidence to the future: But New Zealand stands out before them all as possessed of a soil, a climate, and resources which seem to guarantee prosperity.

From Sydney Morning Herald.

"Talk and action (says the Sydney Morning Herald) may be fairly said to be the characteristics of the respective railway policies of New South Wales and New Zealand. We have been told almost nightly for years in our local Parliament that railways are the cheapest as well as the best roads that can be constructed. Yet we have barely 700 miles completed, only 208 miles in course of construction, and 210 miles approved. In New Zealand, with two-thirds of our population, they have 1,100 miles opened, and over that colony there will soon be a perfect net-work of railways connecting every capital, and crossing the islands from east to west and north and south, in all directions. We have observed with satisfaction the rapid progress this Colony is making—how it has for several years been overtaking the Colony of Victoria, But page 61 there can be very little doubt New Zealand is growing with still greater rapidity; and it does not require great prescience to foresee that a continuance of its immigration policy, concurrently with the opening up of every part of its magnificent territory by a railway, will enable it ere long to outstrip any of the Australian Colonies in the race for national advancement, unless, indeed, more energy is displayed in future on this continent. Railways might be thought to be less required in a country of which no part is 100 miles from the ocean, than in one like ours, extending 700 miles from the seaboard. Those who guide the destinies of New Zealand, however, evidently have a high appreciation of how progress is to be promoted; and whatever their provincial jealousies may be, they are not allowed to interfere with a comprehensive railway scheme adapted to the requirements of all parts of the Colony."